What are causes of spraddle legs in newly hatched chicks that are NOT due to poor traction?
Of 20 chicks hatched, we had two that went spraddle legged hours after hatching. The traction in the brooder is window screening over top of newspaper, which is what we always use, and works as excellent traction. I immediately taped their legs with strips of coflex bandage and they are doing great 24 hours later (I'm leaving the bandages on for a few days according to everything I've read). When I found them spraddled, there is no way it had been that way for more than a few hours.
There are several chicks in the same batch that are full siblings to these two and have no problems. We've also hatched in the past off the same pair.
I thought maybe the brooder was too warm (ruling out everything I could) so I raised the light a little more. Could that have caused it?
Any other ideas?
Of 20 chicks hatched, we had two that went spraddle legged hours after hatching. The traction in the brooder is window screening over top of newspaper, which is what we always use, and works as excellent traction. I immediately taped their legs with strips of coflex bandage and they are doing great 24 hours later (I'm leaving the bandages on for a few days according to everything I've read). When I found them spraddled, there is no way it had been that way for more than a few hours.
There are several chicks in the same batch that are full siblings to these two and have no problems. We've also hatched in the past off the same pair.
I thought maybe the brooder was too warm (ruling out everything I could) so I raised the light a little more. Could that have caused it?
Any other ideas?
